Mechanical syncrronizing device



Jan. 11, 1938. E. MARTIN 2,105,089

MECHANICAL SYNCHRONIZ ING DEVICE Filed May 7', 19:56

/06 /la l -Paieniea Jaa. 11, 193s 4 2,105,089

' MECHANICAL SYNCBRONIZING DEVICE Eric Martin, weas Hartford, conn.,-asngnor to United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, Conn., acorporation of Delaware Appllcauon may 1. 193s, scrlal'No. vasos 1oclaim (ol. sli-im This invention relates to a mechanism for synlarly toFig. 1, the letter A designates one engine, chronizing the speeds of aplurality of engines `the letter B the other engine, and the letter C-mounted upon a vehicle, such as an airplane, and generally designates amechanical synchronizing has particular reference to a mechanicalmecha.- unit interposed between the two engines. The

5 msm for maintaining the engines-in a synchroengine A is provided witha speed regulating 6 nous condition. governor i0 which may act tocontrol the speed An object of the invention resides in the proviof theengine A by controlling the pitch of a consion of a mechanical device ordevices for maintrollable pitch propeller in a manner well-known tainingone or more of a plurality of engines in to the art. The speed of theengine B is similarly synchronism with a master engine. regulated by agovernor indicated at Il. 'Die l0 A further object resides in theprovision ot governor il is subjected to manual control byineans forsubjecting all o! the engines to manual means oi a manually actuatablecontrol element as well as automatic control. I4, and the governor Il issimilarly controlled by A still further object resides in the provisioninA a manual control device i8. Each of tl manual l5 a synchronizingmechanism of the character decontrol devices includes a manuallyoperable 15 scribed ol' means for disconnecting the synchrolever ilconnected to a pulley 2l over which nizer to avoid injury to thesynchronizer or the passesa cable which also .over a pulley as speedcontrolling elementsin case the engines are indicated at 22 in case ofthe governor Il. B`nd out of synchronism, by more than aA predeter` 24in the case of the governor i2, operatively 60D mined degree. v nectedwith the governors to adjust the same. 2o

An additional object resides yin the provision The Sable Used t0 adjustthe 80Vel'n0i' Il i8 indi- Y in a synchronizing mechanism of thecharacter cated at 26, and the cable used to Millet the described ofmeans` for automatically returning governor l2 1S indicated et 2l.

the synchronizingmechanism to its neutral -or The mechanicalsynchronizing unit Cisa form centered position after it has beenactuated by of differential mechanism and has its opposite 25 adifference in the speeds of the engines to which 'ends operativelyconnected to the engines A. and

it is operatively connected. B by means of suitable shafts ll and Il,which Other objects and advantages will be more disin the case of actualinstallations may be exible tinctly pointed out hereinafter or willbecome tachometer shafts or other suitable POWel tlllapparent as thedescription proceeds. mitting elements. The two shafts Il and nare Inthe accompanying drawing, in which like connected to the engines torotate in opposite direference numeralsare used to designate similarreotions nl? the Same Speed when the engines Bre parts throughout, thereis illustrated a suitable in Synchronlsm.

mechanical embodiment of what yis now consld- Referring to FIZ. 2,thesynohl'onining Unit C 3,-, ered to be the preferred form ofthe ideaof the is shown to comprise a diii'erentii mechanism 35 invention. Thedrawing, however, is for the mounted in a Suitable cil-Sins a Thisdaling if purpose of illustration only and is not toA be generallycylindrical or cup-shaped inform and taken as limiting the invention,-the scope or is permanently closed at one end, the other end which istobe measured entirely bythe scopeV being closed by a removable covermember 30 4i) of the appended claims. screw threaded into the open endof the casing. 40

.1n the drawing, Fig. 1 is a schematic iiluatra- The casing is providedwith a suitable bose 3l tion showing the application of one unit of theby means of which it moy be Bl'fthd t0 me improved mechanicalsynchronizing mechanism portion of the vehicle, such as anV airplane,upon to' two engines, the speeds of which lt is desired which theenineeto be Synohronliled are mount' to synchronize. ed. 'I'he closedend ot the casing is`provided een-` 45 Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of the trally thereof with en annular boss Il whichreincchanical synchronizing mechanism unit iliusceives and retains asleeve-like bearing member l iD trated in Fig. 1. or bushing l2, thecover I8 being provided with Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 4a similar boss whichrretains a similar bearinil of Fig. 2. member orbushing 46, the bushing being clamped 50 Fig. 4 is a fragmentarysectional view similar in the bosses by suitable means, such as thesplit i to Fig. 2 b ut showing the clutch mechanism clamps I l, screwthreaded upon the externally somewhat rotated so as to section one ofthe projecting portionsioi' the bosses. A'gear shaft Il clutch springs.l -is rotatably mounted in the bearing Il. and a Referring to thedrawing in detail and particusimilar gear shaft I2 is rotatably mountedin the 55 bearing 46. Each gear shaft is provided inits that the detentsprovide the driving connecouter end with a non-circular bore or well Itions between the cage member 68 and the clutch Y which receives adriving connection from Ithe remember 14.

Spctive Shaft 3U 0l" 32. A beveled gear 5s iS Upon the exterior 0f theannular portion G1 5 formed integrally With the Shaft 5l and is )5103i Aof the member Il, there is provided a. worm wheel 5 tioned within thecasing 3l adjacent to the center l2 which vengages with the teeth of agear` 94 thereof. A similar beveled gear 5l is formed mounted upon ashaft 96 which extends transintegrally with the shaft- 52 and faces thegear 5B vexsely through the upper portion of the casing on the interiorof the casing.A A ring member; 3l and is received in an upward extension98 of l0` generally indicated at El, is rotatably lmounted the casing.The shaft is'journaled in. the ex- 10 upon the inwardly projecting endof the bearing tension sa by means off suitable bushings ill and member'46 by means of a bearing sleeve portion |02 particularly illustrated inFig. 3. From the B2. `This ring member has anannular portion abovedescription it will be observed that any 6l connected to the bearingsleeve by an annular rotation of the member 6I incident to a differenceend portion 6 6 and contains within the annular in the speeds of thegears 5i and 5l by rotating 15 portion a cage member il, particularlyillustrated the worm 92- will cause a rotation of the gear 94 in Fig. 3.In the form of the invention illusand theshaft Si. At its opposite endsthe shaft trated, the cage or spider member. is roughly II is providedwith eccentric journals, as inditriangular in shape and carries threeradial` `rcated at '|84 and IIII, and'upon these journals pinion gears1li rotatably'nmounted therein by 1 cable pulleys Ill and IIBarerotatably' mounted. 20

- means of suitable bearings, .as indicated at 12. Referring no w toFig.3, it will be observed that The three pinions III mesh with thetwobeveled .the cable 26 from the manual control I 6 to the gears 5B and5B, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2: governor Ill is carried over thepulleys Illav and From'the construction so far described,`it.willbe.IIB, the cable 28 from the manual control I4 observed that as long asthe two gears and being led directlytothe pulley 2l of the governor 2558 rotate in Opposite directions at equal speeds. 12. This arrangementmakes -the engine B the the pinions 1l will rotate between the twobeveled master engine, the speed of which is manually gears, but therewill be no movement of the cage regulated by the manual control il. Thev68, but if the speed of one 'of the gears Si or il governor lil of theengine A is manually 'adjusted 30 varies .with respect to the speed ofthe other until its speed is approximately the sameas the. 3o

gear, the cage'i will be caused to creep or rotate -speed of the engineB. After this manual adabout the axis of the beveled gears.'l Qjustment, minonadjustments to maintain the An annular 'clutch member 14is interposed beengine A exactly in synchronism'withthe engine ztweenthe exterior of the cage member 68 and B are elfected automatically bythe synchronizing the interior of the annular portion 64 of the ringunit C, since if the speed'of the engine A varies 'g5 memberl 60, andhas at one end an inwardly with lrespectif that 0f theellgine BrilleShaft' directed radial-harigeportion' lli which vfaces a -SB of thesynchronizing unitA will be rotated to 4similar inwardly directed-mageportion 'Ilot an move the: eccentric journals ill. and I li, whichannular member 80 screw threaded into the open movement will resultinpulling upon one side 40 end of the annular portion GI of the member ilof the cable and loosening theother side with 40 and retained inadjusted position thereinby'sita consequent minor adjustment of thepulley 22 .able means, such as the. snap 'ring 82, ofthe "governorA 1nular disc of `friction material 84 'is interposed A pair of oppsitelywoundfclock springs l i2 between the adjacent surfaces of the flanges 1BA and'. Ill are within the casing 3l and andl to providea-frictionclutch connection bef v*connected at their outer ends to thecasing by 4,-;

tv'veenv the members ll and 80, which aref urged suitable means "such asthe pinhl IS, and at their towardeach other in a mannerwell'known 1ninner ends to the member 6B by suitable means the clutch artes-bysuitablecompression Springs suchv as the' pin III. 'I'he` forceof theseYtwo ,f A 85. The case 681s free'torotate within the ansprings beine''.exertedin opposite directions,

nular portion 64 of the member except fOr lil'l` 'whenever'tlie member`is rotated to adjust the m driving connection effected by the fictionalconspeed of the engine A 'with respect-to that of the tact between themembers 14v and Il. lBr reason engines and the' condition ten'dmgtorotate the,

'of this frictional connection, if the rotation of member il issubsequently corrected, the springs 'the members B8 vwith respect to themember il III and [Il will assist in returning the member becomesexcessive. the clutch -will vslip before' the u toits'eentraioir-neutral position and wm cenav e synchronizing mechanism' 'or theSpeed control izo-maintain the-member in thatposition against v elements01rtheniflvine shafts v:ure injured-1f tne action ofminoraccidentaiforces. In' order to provide further'for "safe operationof 7While there has been illustrated and described Y thedevice, 'aplurality oi'v centrifugal member-sliv aparticular'mechanical'embodimentof what is oo are pivotally conneotedto the cage-Bl, as innow'considered to be tn'epreferred form-of the m dicated at," in Fig. 2.-Each ofthese centrifugal invention, Vitis to beunderstood that theinvenmembers is provided adjacent to pivot Il tion" is not limited tothe particular mechanical with a' gtong'ue or., detent -ll whichprojects into embodiment so illustrated and described, but that u e anaperturevprgi'vided 1in the membe'rjll. 'With Vauch' changes in -meland-arrange- 455- .this constructiom if the difference in 'the nient ofparts may be resorted to 'as come within c;

- Aof thev two-gears 56 and 5 3 resultslna rotation the Yscoileof the.appended claims.

A of thev il, at; a rateabov'e a .predeter- Having nowdescribed the'invention sc'` that` Vmined rate', `forlelrample, twenty revolutions perothers skilled 'in' clearly understand minute, centrifugal force actinge same, what it tn secure by Letters Jobersiwillcause themtoswingoutwardlyand 'Patentlsasfollqw'si'-' if imovethememberflltotheleftasviewedlnm.' Whatclimedisy 2 away from contact withthe surface inthe q1. A .Y d'yl for matching bei Y friction material 8l,thusffreeing the cage menif jointly mm engines provided with ber i8 'forrotation relative to the` member'il. speed mum comprising a 75 It willalso be notedjhom an inspection of Fig. 2 mmm, having one dem-1mb, 75

one engine in one direction, and the other side driven by the otherengine in the opposite direction. an intermediate portion driven by saiddlilerential sides when the speed of one engine 5 differs from the speedof the other, means operatively connectingr said intermediate portionwith the speed controlling mechanism of at least one ol' said engines,and means for releasing the drive to said intermediate portion when thel0 speeds of said engines dlier by more than the predetermined amount. i

2. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed o! a 'controlled motorwith that or a master motor, a speed controlling device onsaidcontrolled motor, a diiierential mechanism driven by said motors andacting to displace an element 0P- eratively connected with said speedcontrolling device whenever the speeds of said motors differ, and meansfor releasing said speed controlling device fromthedisplacing force ofsaid difierential mechanism whenever the speeds oi' said motors diil'erby more` than Aa predetermined amount.

3. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed oi' a plurality ofcontrolled motors with that oi a master motor, a speed controllingdevice on each of said controlled motors. a differential mechanismbetween each of said controlled motors and saidrmaster motor, adisplaceable ele- 80 ment operatively associated with each oi! saiddifferential mechanisms and operatively connected with the speedcontrolling device of the respective controlled motor, said displaceableelements being moved to operate the respective a5 speed control deviceswhenever the speed of the respective controlled motors differ from thespeed Joi the master motor, and means for releasing each of saiddisplaceable devices from the displacing force exerted by the respectivedifieren- '40 tial mechanism when the speed ofthe respective controlledmotor diil'ers from the speed of themaster motorv by more than apredetermined amount.

4. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed oi' a controlled enginewith that of a master engine, a speed controlling device' on saidcontrolled engine, a dierential mechanism disposed between said engineshaving one gear driven in one direction by said master engine, andanother gear driven in the opposite direction by said controlled engine,pinion gears between said engine driven gears, a cage supporting saidpinion gears and movable ,therewith vupon a variation in the speed oisaidcontrolled engine with respect to 55 the speed of the master engine,a ring member surrounding said cage and operatively associated with thespeed controlling mechanism on said controlled engine, a friction drivebetween said cage and said ring, and centriiugally actuated 00 means forreleasing said friction drive whenever the speed of said controlledengine varies from the speed of said master engine by more than apredetermined amount.

5. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed gg of a controlled enginewith that of a master engine, a speed controlling device on saidcontrolled engine, a diierential mechanism disposed between said engineshaving one gear driven in one direction by said master engine andanother-gear 70 driven in the opposite direction by said con` trolledengine, pinion gears between-said engine driven gears, a cage supportingsaid pinion gears and movable therewith upon a variation in the speed cisaid controlled engine with respect to the 75 `speed of the masterengine, a ring member surrounding said cage and operatively associatedwith the speed controlling mechanism on said controlled engine, afriction drive between said cage and said ring, centrifugally actuatedmeans' for releasing said friction drive whenever the speed of saidcontrolled engine varies from the speed oi' said master engine by morethan a predetermined amount, and means for automatically returning saidring to its central or neutral position after it has been displaced fromsuch posi- 10 tion by variation in the speed of the controlled enginewith respect to the speed of the master engine.

6. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed of a controlled enginewith the speed of a master 15 engine, a centrifugally actuated governoron each engine, a diierential mechanism disposed between said enginesand having its opposite lsides driven by said engines, and adisplaceable member operatively connected with the governor of 2o saidcontrolled engine and associated with said i differential mechanism tobe displacedby said diierential mechanism upon a variation in the speedof the controlled engine with respect tothe speed of the master engine.25 l 7. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed of a controlledengine with that oi a master engine, a centriiugally actuated governorupon each engine, a manual control for each governor,

a diil'erential mechanism disposed between said 30 engines and driventhereby, and means associated with said differential mechanism andactuated thereby upon a variation in the speed of the controlled enginewith respect to the speed of the master engine interposed in the manualcontrol 3.1 to said controlled engine to vary the action of thecontrolled engine governor upon a variation in the speed of thecontrolled engine with respect to the speed o! the master engine.

- 8. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed 4p of a controlledengine with that of a master engine, a governor for each engine, amanual control for each governor, a cable connecting each manual controlwith the respective governor, a differential mechanism interposedbetween said 4;, engines and driven thereby, and means applied to thecable connecting the governor of said controlled engine with therespective manual control and actuated by said diilerential mechanismupon a variation in the speed of said controlled engine with respect tothe speed ot said master engine to vary the action of the governor ofsaid controlled engine without varying the manual control for saidcontrolled engine.

9. In a mechanism for synchronizing the speed of a controlled enginewith that of a master engine, a. speed controlling governor for eachengine, a pulley on each governor for changing the action of thegovernor and varying the speed of the engine, a manual control for each'governor, 60 a cable connecting each manual control with the pulley ofthe respective. governor vwhereby both of said governors may be manuallycontrolled to vary the engine speed, and means applied to the cableconnecting the governor of the controlled engine with the respectivemanual control and actuated by variations in the speed o! saidcontrolled engine with respect to the speed of said master engine tochangethe tension in the opposite sides `voi said cable and therebyprovide minor adjustments to the governor of said controlled engine tomaintain the speed of said controlled ensinain synchronism with thespeed of said master engine.

10.111 a mechanism for synchronizing the speed of a controlled enginewith that of a master engine, a speed controlling governor for eachengine, a puley on each governor for, changing the action of thegovernor and varying the speed of the engine, a manual control for eachgovernor, a cable connecting each manual control with the pulley of therespective governor whereby both of said governors may be manuallycontrolled toA vary the engine speed, and means applied to the cableconnecting the governor of the controlled engine with the respectivemanual control, and actuated by variations in the speed of saidcontrolled engine with respect to the speed oi' vsaid master enginetochange the tension in the opposite sides of 'said cable, and 'therebyprovide minor adjustments to the governor of said controlled engine tomaintain the speed of said controlled engine in synchronism 1with thespeed of said master engine, said means comprising a shaft driven by adiierentlal mechanism driv- .ingly connected with said engines andhaving eccentrically mounted pulleys uponv the opposite ends thereof,the opposite sides of thev cable 10 being led over said pulleys.

DISCLAIMER 2,105,089.4-Erle .Martha West Hartford, Conn. MECHANICALSYNCHRONIZING DEVICE.

Patent dated January l1, 1938. Disclaimer Iled February 20,

1939, by the assignee, United Aircraft Corporation; the patenteeconsenting and approving.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 6, 7, and 8 of Letters Patent.

[Oficial Gazette March 21,193.9.1

of a controlled engine with that of a master engine, a speed controllinggovernor for each engine, a puley on each governor for, changing theaction of the governor and varying the speed of the engine, a manualcontrol for each governor, a cable connecting each manual control withthe pulley of the respective governor whereby both of said governors maybe manually controlled toA vary the engine speed, and means applied tothe cable connecting the governor of the controlled engine with therespective manual control, and actuated by variations in the speed ofsaid controlled engine with respect to the speed oi' vsaid masterengineto change the tension in the opposite sides of 'said cable, and'thereby provide minor adjustments to the governor of said controlledengine to maintain the speed of said controlled engine in synchronism1with the speed of said master engine, said means comprising a shaftdriven by a diierentlal mechanism driv- .ingly connected with saidengines and having eccentrically mounted pulleys uponv the opposite endsthereof, the opposite sides of thev cable 10 being led over saidpulleys.

DISCLAIMER 2,105,089.4-Erle .Martha West Hartford, Conn. MECHANICALSYNCHRONIZING DEVICE.

Patent dated January l1, 1938. Disclaimer Iled February 20,

1939, by the assignee, United Aircraft Corporation; the patenteeconsenting and approving.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 6, 7, and 8 of Letters Patent.

[Oficial Gazette March 21,193.9.1

